Santa Barbara Theft Lawyers

Santa Barbara Theft Lawyers

Under the laws of California, the crime of theft (also referred to as larceny) is defined as the unlawful taking of someone else’s property. Theft is divided into two classifications – petty theft and grand theft.

Generally speaking, any theft that does not meet all of the requirements of a petty theft according to California Penal Code Section 484(a) and California Penal Code Section 488 PC will constitute a grand theft. In most cases, grand theft in California is a wobbler, meaning that it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony grand theft. A misdemeanor grand theft is punishable up to one year in county jail. If it’s a felony, one may be sentenced to sixteen months, two years, or three years of incarceration in the county jail.

Defenses to Theft Charges in California

Sanford and Christy Horowitz are experienced California criminal defense attorneys. With their help, you may be able to beat theft charges using certain legal defenses, such as:

You did not intend to steal,

The allegedly stolen property actually belonged to you,

The person who owed the item consented to you taking it, and/or,

There are additionally many other defenses that the skilled trial attorneys at Sanford & Christy Horowitz Criminal Defense are prepared to engage to vigorously defend their clients.